Story by Memory Chamisa
THE sixth edition of the International Pairs Golf Tournament was officially launched in Harare on Friday, with organisers and Government positioning sports tourism as a growing driver of Zimbabwe’s economy.
The launch follows a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, through the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA), and Albatross Golf aimed at promoting tourism through sport.
Over the past six years, the tournament’s national finals have rotated across the country to promote domestic tourism and showcase Zimbabwe’s golfing and leisure destinations.
Sterling Group of Hotels Managing Director, Mrs Shaurai Manyika, said the partnership with ZTA had strengthened the tournament’s contribution to local tourism.
“A key partner in the tournament is the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, whose collaboration has been instrumental in aligning the tournament with the national drive to promote local travel and tourism,” she said.
“Through golf, the tournament encourages participants and supporters to explore different regions of Zimbabwe, thereby contributing to increased domestic tourism activity and positively impacting the national economy.”
Mrs Manyika said this year’s edition, running under the theme ‘Explore Zimbabwe; One Fairway at a Time’, seeks to deepen the link between sport and tourism while attracting golfers from diverse backgrounds.
Zimbabwe Golf Association president, Mr Blessmore Gandawa, said golf had become an important tourism and economic driver.
“There has been tremendous evolution of golf, not just as a sport but as a tourism driver. It has contributed immensely to economic growth in host countries,” he said.
“The tournament brings forth vast opportunities in both mainstream and downstream industries within sport and tourism.”
Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister, Honourable Barbara Rwodzi, described the initiative as a strong example of collaboration between Government and the private sector.
“This is a great partnership between Government, Albatross Golf and the Sterling Group of Hotels, and it shows how we have embraced a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach in advancing tourism through sport,” she said.
Honourable Rwodzi encouraged organisers to bid to host future international editions in Zimbabwe.
“We encourage the organisers to bid for future editions of the tournament to be hosted in Zimbabwe so that international tourists can come and witness the country’s unique attractions and experiences first-hand,” she said.
She added that the tournament promotes inclusivity by bringing together professional and amateur golfers while showcasing Zimbabwe’s culture and hospitality.
The competition features 35 qualifying events nationwide, culminating in the national final scheduled for 22 August 2026 at Harare Country Club.
The winning pair will represent Zimbabwe at the International Pairs World Finals in Spain in October.
